Springfield Mass. – The St. Thomas Aquinas College Women's Lacrosse team opened the 2022 season, falling to American International College, 20-17, on Wednesday afternoon at Ronald J. Abdow Field in Springfield. STAC dropped to 0-1 on the season, while AIC improved to 1-0.
 
How It Happened

• The two teams traded goals in the first four minutes of action, Samantha Cerrato knotted the score at one with 11:48 remaining in the first quarter.
• STAC scored two consecutive goals by Micaela Ross and Leanna Iobbi to take a 3-1 advantage with just over eight minutes to play in the opening frame.
• AIC would get one back, before STAC would tally twice again on goals by Danielle Cajou and Iobbi to make it a 5-2 game.
• American International rattled off six consecutive goals in the final 6:39 of the quarter to take an 8-5 lead through 15 minutes of action.
• The Spartans and Yellow Jackets put up four goals apiece in the second quarter, with Jennifer Stevens striking for her first, followed by Micaela Ross answering with her second of the day, Danielle Cajou picking up her second and Stevens closing out the scoring with her second to make it 12-9 AIC advantage at halftime.
• Following the break, a pair of Yellow Jackets goals in the first three minutes, gave the hosts a five-goal lead, 14-9.
• STAC answered back with a goal of their own, courtesy Leanna Iobbi to make it 14-10.
• The teams then traded the next six goals, with Micaela Ross (2), Danielle Cajou and Olivia Cerbo all finding the back of the net. AIC continued to lead 18-14 through three quarters of play.
• In the fourth quarter, American International would get the first two goals of the frame to increase their lead to 20-14 with just over 10 and a half minutes to play.
• STAC would rally back, tallying three goals of their own, as Micaela Ross, Leanna Iobbi and Olivia Cerbo would each score to close the deficit to three at 20-17 with 45 seconds remaining. Unfortunately, time would not be on the Spartans side, as AIC would run out the clock and take the three-goal victory.

Top Performances

• Micaela Ross netted five goals on the afternoon.
• Danielle Cajou tallied nine points (three goals and six assists).
• Leanna Iobbi added four points with four goals.
• Sophomore Hailey Galison picked up five ground balls and caused three turnovers.
• Junior Colleen Stevens made eight saves between the pipes.

Up Next
STAC returns to action on Wednesday, March 9 when they host Pace University in the team's home opener at Spartan Field. Opening draw is set for 3:00 p.m.